Stand for holding writing implements

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a stand made of a ceramic material for holding writing instruments such as pencils or the like. The stand has rows of holes for receiving the instruments and may have a rectangular shape or other shapes. The stand has a large capacity for holding writing instruments despite having a relatively small base area.

D United States Patent 1 1 3,593,856

[72] Inventor Olaf Zander [56' References Cited A l N Wald, GermanyUNITED STATES PATENTS P 769,592 9 1904 De Long 211/69.5 [22] Filed Oct.29, 1969 786,719 4/1905 Berolzhelmer 211/695 [45] Patented July 20, 1971[73] Assign 0M lander Kommandibcesenschafl 2,354,118 7/1944 Hansen211/695 Konigstein (Taunus), Germany FOREIGN PATENTS [3 PriorityNov-8,1968 242,365 5/1946 Switzerland 211/695 [331 2:??? l OTHERREFERENCES [3] l AMERICAN INVENTOR PUBLICATION, March 15,

1899 copy in 21 1/695 Primary ExaminerNile C. Byers, Jr. AnorneyWayne B.Easton [54] 2 ES E WRITING IMPLEMENTS ABSTRACT: The invention relates toa stand made of a n ceramic material for holding writing instrumentssuch as pen- [52] US. Cl 211/69.5 cils or the like. The stand has rowsof holes for receiving the [51] Int. Cl A471 7/00 instruments and mayhave a rectangular shape or other [50] Field of Search 21 1/695, shapes.The stand has a-large capacity for holding writing in- 69.1 strumentsdespite having a relatively small base area.

PATENTEU JUL 20 I9?! STAND FOR HOLDING WRITING IMPLEMEN'IS The inventionrelates to a stand for holding writing instruments such as pencils, ballpoint pens and pen holders in vertical positions in several holes whichare arranged adjacent to each other.

There are known stands having a ball joint and a tulipshaped holdermounted on a base for receiving a writing instrument. There are alsosimilar type stands having two tulipshaped holders mounted on a base.Moreover, there is a known stand having a relatively tall convex-shapedshaped plastic body portion which has a single circular row of holesarranged next to each other for receiving writing instruments. Theseholes are slightly inclined inwardly so that the center of gravity ofeach inserted writing instrument is located over a center area of theplastic body portion.

It is a disadvantage of all these stands that they, with reference tothe single holding hole, require relatively large base surfaces in orderto attain sufiicient stability. For practical reasons, for instancebecause of the available space on a desk, it is desirable that the sizeof the base surface is limited. For this reason, the number of receivingholes in prior art stands are relatively few and in some known designsthere are as few as a total of four holes.

It is the object of this invention to provide an inexpensive stand forholding writing instruments which has a great number of receiving holesand has a good stability despite having a small base area.

According to the invention, and based on a stand having several holesarranged next to each other, this problem is solved by having the standmade of ceramic material.

Ceramic material is inexpensive and can be easily shaped into thedesired form and hardened by burning. Especially important is its heavyweight which allows the center of gravity of the stand to remain almostunchanged after writing instruments are inserted into it. As a result agood stability is attained when the base of the stand is not larger thanthe materit al needed to form the holes which are arranged next to eachother.

It is especially advantageous when at least two rows of holes arearranged next to each other. In this way the stand is very stable andwill not tip even if relatively substantial forces are applied to theupper ends of the writing instruments. Moreover, this makes it possibleto increase the number of holding holes and both characteristicscorrespond with each other: the greater the number of receiving holes,the greater the stability. Optimum results are obtained when the numberof rows correspond approximately with the number of holes in each row.This provides a substantially square stand which is especiallyacceptable from the aesthetic standpoint.

In one embodiment of the invention the holes do not go through all theway, but their depth is at least 80 percent of the total height of thestand. This type of stand can be manufactured for example by thepressing of ceramic material. Due to the continuous ceramic base thesestands have an especially low center of gravity and, moreover, can bema'hufactured in one piece.

In another embodiment of the invention the holes go through all the wayand are covered below by a common bottom. As a rule, this results in aneasier manufacturing process because a ceramic part with through holescan be manufactured as an extruded piece, i.e. a piece cut off from thematerial extruded by the extruding press. It is normally adequate to usefor this purpose the cheapest coarse ceramic because the extrudedpiececan be ground at least on the upper surface to provide a suitableappearance. Due to the separate manufacturing process of the bottom orbase portion it can consist either entirely or partially of a materialother than ceramic.

It is especially recommended the lower side of the bottom base portionhave a protective layer such as felt, fabric, fiber flakes or plastic.The edges of the bottom cover can also be pulled up on the side surfacesof the stand, for instance like a Sm-ink" foil. Such a bottom cover hasgood adhesion, can be used for decorative purposes and offers edges ofthe stand on the bottom side.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention the stand has the form of apunched plate with the top and bottom surfaces thereof being parallel toeach other. This is desirable for aesthetic as well as manufacturingreasons. However, the upper surface may also be inclined without greaterdifficulty by obliquely cutting the extruded piece.

It is especially advantageous when the holes have an approximatelyrectangular cross section and are arranged next to each other instraight and parallel rows. In this way the distances between the holesare small so that a writing instrument will hit a receiving hole withgreatest certainty when it is inserted.

A similar effect is achieved when the holes have an approximatelyrectangular cross section and are arranged next to each other incircular, concentric rows.

It is also advantageous when the stand is glazed, at least on the upperside. This glaze not only improves the aesthetic appearance of thestand, made for instance from coarse ceramic, but it also allows thewriting instruments to slide easily into a receiving hole, even whentheir tips hit the space between the holes. This is not only the effectof the smooth surface but also the slight curvature of the glaze betweenthe holes.

The invention is explained below on the basis of the embodiments thereofshown in the drawing:

FIG. I is a perspective view ofa first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary vertical section;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section of another embodiment of theinvention;

protection for the FIG. 4 is a fragmentary vertical section of a thirdembodiment ofthe invention;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical section of a cut through theglazed upper side of the area between two holes; and

FIG. 6 is a plan view of another embodiment of the inven- U011.

The stand I in FIG. 1 is used to hold instruments for writing, such aspencils 2 and ball point pens 3. It consists of a ceramic body which hasrectangular receiving holes 5. There are seven holes 5 in each of therows 6 and there is a total of six such rows 6 arranged next to eachother. This results in an approximately square base surface of thestand 1. In spite of the 42 possibilities to receive writing instrumentsthe base surface of the stand is very small. Each hole requires a basesurface of only about 2.5 cm. and in spite of this fact the stability isexcellent.

Between the holes 5 there are cross pieces 7 and longitudinallyextending pieces 8. Due to the rectangular shape of the holes 5 theremaining portion of the upper surface 9 of the stand I is very small sothat a writing instrument will hit a hole with great probability when itis inserted.

FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the stand which consists of a one piecebody 10 and in which the parts between the holes II are connected witheach other by a bottom 12. Therefore, the holes 13 do not go through allthe way. Such a stand can be shaped in a press from ceramic material andthen burned. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 the body of the stand 114is an extruded piece whose walls I5 between the holes and the holes 16are already present in the extruded material when it leaves theextruder. The individual plateshaped bodies 14 are cut off from thisextruded material and a relatively coarse ceramic material may be usedfor this purpose. The upper surface ll7 can subsequently be ground. Animperforate base 18, which may be a thick layer of felt, is cemented tothe bottom of body 14. Base I8 closes the holes 16 and is alsoieffectivein providing a protective layer. The base 18 can also be a combinationof various other materials.

FIG. t shows such a combined bottom or base 19. It consists of a ceramicplate 20 and a plastic shrink" foil 21 whose edges 22 are pulled up onthe side surfaces of the body 14. This results in a protective edge 23,good adhesion of the ceramic plate 20 to the body 14 and sometimes alsoin a desired aesthetic effect.

FIG. shows the upper side of a wall 15 between the holes which iscovered with a glaze. This glaze forms a hill 26 on the upper side ofsaid wall between the holes. Consequently, a writing instrument whichhits the upper side of this hill with its tip slides automatically alongthe inclined surfaces 27 into the nearest hole 16. Moreover, the glazecan result in an aesthetic improvement of the appearance and can coverthe exposed grain of a coarse ceramic material.

F IG. 6 shows a plan view of a stand 28 designed in accordance with theinventive principle having holes 29 which also have approximatelyrectangular cross sections. Each row of holes 30 is arranged in asemicircle. Although two rows 30 are shown, a single row 30 would alsoprovide great stability. In the two row embodiment show it is seen thatthe walls 31 between the rectangular holes 29 require only a very smallportion of the total plan view surface of the stand 28.

Many variations of the disclosed embodiments are possible withoutdeparture from the basic idea of the invention. For instance, the holesmay have round or any other suitable cross sections. Hexagonal crosssections would result in similarly small walls like those shown in thespecifically disclosed embodiments of the invention. When the stand isdipped into a glaze bath, first from the top and then from the bottom,an aesthetic color impression can be attained. The side surfaces can bedecorated also in other ways such as with glued-on or burned-in picturesor with advertising matter or the owner's name.

The stands can be manufactured by casting into a mold, for instance aplaster mold. In this manner stands having very smooth surfaces can bemanufactured.

lclaim:

l. A stand for holding writing instruments comprising a body portion ofa coarse ceramic material, said body portion having a rectangular shapewith four exterior walls and inter secting interior walls forming aplurality of holes extending vertically entirely through said body, alayer of feltlike material attached to the bottom of said body, and theupper portion of said body being glazed to provide smooth and roundedupper edges on said walls.

1. A stand for holding writing instruments comprising a body portion ofa coarse ceramic material, said body portion having a rectangular shapewith four exterior walls and intersecting interior walls forming aplurality of holes extending vertically entirely through said body, alayer of feltlike material attached to the bottom of said body, and theupper portion of said body being glazed to provide smooth and roundedupper edges on said walls.